On May 20, 2025, a historic announcement was made in New Delhi, India, as the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) declared the complete eradication of polio worldwide. The landmark achievement came after years of concerted efforts by international health organizations, governments, and volunteers, marking the end of the decades-long battle against one of the world’s most devastating diseases.
The declaration was made at a special event attended by key figures in global health, including Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director of the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr. Tedros praised the efforts of global health workers and the many countries that had worked tirelessly to vaccinate children and prevent the spread of the disease. “Today, we can celebrate a monumental victory for global health. Polio is no longer a threat to any child in the world. This is an achievement that will be remembered for generations,” he said.
The eradication of polio is considered one of the greatest achievements in public health history. For years, the disease caused paralysis and death, particularly among young children in parts of Africa and South Asia. However, through widespread vaccination campaigns, strategic surveillance, and the dedication of millions of health workers, the world has managed to eliminate the disease from every country.
The GPEI, launched in 1988 by WHO, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, set out with the goal of eradicating polio by 2000. Although this ambitious timeline was not met, the initiative continued its work and expanded its reach, resulting in a steady decline in cases over the following decades. In 2023, polio cases were reduced by over 99% from their peak in the 1980s.
One of the major hurdles in the final push to eradication was the challenge of reaching children in conflict zones and remote areas. Vaccination teams faced significant risks in countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan, where political instability and armed conflict posed threats to health workers. However, the combined efforts of local governments, international agencies, and the global health community ultimately prevailed, and polio was declared eradicated globally after no new cases were reported in 2024.
The announcement is also significant for the future of global health, as it demonstrates the power of vaccines and international cooperation in solving global health challenges. Bill Gates, whose foundation contributed billions of dollars to polio eradication efforts, remarked, “This is proof that with the right tools, commitment, and collaboration, we can tackle even the most difficult diseases. Polio is a success story, and it should inspire us all to continue the fight against other preventable diseases.”
The eradication of polio, while a momentous victory, also brings with it new challenges. Health experts are now turning their focus toward ensuring that polio does not resurface in any form, through continued vaccination programs and robust monitoring systems. Additionally, lessons learned from the polio campaign are being applied to other global health challenges, including the fight against infectious diseases like malaria and tuberculosis.
With polio now eradicated, the global health community looks ahead to the next frontier in public health—ensuring that all children around the world receive the vaccines they need to stay safe from other preventable diseases.
